Spirals of Inquiry

In our staff pld session next week we will be looking at starting a spiral of inquiry.  The first step is to decide on a "hunch" which we are doing at the moment.

Click this link to access the Spirals of Inquiry paper

Rubrics for pedagogy

These rubrics for pedagogy were developed in mid 2015 by combining the summary of findings from the OECD research into Innovative Learning with the Microsoft rubrics for 21st century learning.  This term we are working with Core Education on spirals of inquiry and we are using this rubric as a guide for what we want to achieve (double click on the image for a clearer view).

Young Catholic Leaders Day

Students from year 7 & 8 travelled to St Joseph's in Timaru today to meet with their peers from St Patrick's Waimate, St Joseph's Temuka, St Joseph's Timaru and the Sacred Heart.

They spent the day considering what it means to be a Catholic leader.  During the day we shared two liturgies with each school taking a part.  Our students were a bit nervous about taking the stage to sing "Awesome God," but did it really well.

Student leaders from Roncalli College talked about their leadership journeys.  Head boy, Jacob Mulholland explained that the key to being a good leader is being true to yourself and taking every opportunity that comes your way.

Josh South from WAVE was an inspirational speaker telling about his battle with cancer as a 12 year old which resulted in him losing his leg and how he went on to become a paralympic swimming gold medalist.  He explained that the major thing that got in his way when when he failed to achieve at his swimming was his own attitude.  He needed to focus on the swimming and not get distracted by ego.

Everyone also had the chance to take part in two workshops with a choice of ki o rahi, fun prayers, digital prayers, art, and a student workshop where each school shared their leadership opportunities.

Term 2 Science Inquiry

Term 2.2016 Science Inquiry

BIG QUESTION: God gave us the earth and all that is in it.  Our job is to look after the earth.  How do we look after our earth?

We are using a traditional inquiry model with a SOLO twist to help us support the children's independence

First 3 weeks

 Second 3 weeks

Third 3 weeks

Student Agency - a starting point

Our March 2016 staff meeting.  Student agency is the underlying focus of our inquiry/SOLO based learning and our digital PLD in 2016

Room 3 & 4, 2 March 2016

You have been learning about "Grit.  Today we're having a little review of where you're at.  What are you thinking about what you're learning?

Check your grouping on the board.

Unistructural - you're just getting your head around what grit means 

Watch this movie

This is an outstanding example of grit.

Open the doc that's been shared with you in your drive and put down some thoughts about this.

What do you think grit means now?  

Multistructural - you can communicate in lots of different ways

This link is a quiz about communication.   Make a note of your answers.  You can check the answers at the end.   How well do you do?

Communication Quiz

We will brainstorm about communication in class.  Each one of you needs to set themselves the challenge of trying out a type of communication you find difficult.  Write it in your Google doc.  Share it with your buddy.  

Relational - you are thinking about the tough choices you have to make sometimes.

Extended Abstract - you're ready to explain about grit to someone else.  You're ready to inspire someone else to be stronger, better and happier.

Have a look at this boy's video.  He calls himself "Kid President."  His message is "You were born to be awesome."  "Take the road to awesome."

How are you going to take the road to awesome?  Write some thoughts in your doc.  How can you inspire others to be their most awesome self?

The two roads diverging (meaning going different ways) in a forest comes from a poem by Robert Frost.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to grow and change over time depending on experiences is a departure from traditional understandings of the brain, and intelligence, as a fixed structure.  Neuroplasticity underlies the popular "Growth Mindset" thinking.  It also explains how the brain of the "digital native" - those who speak DFL - Digital as First Language (most of the students), is structurally different from the brain of those who have DSL - Digital as Second Language (most of the parents and teachers).  But DSLs can immerse themselves and become bilingual.